Dirty Pretty Things @ Rock City

Dirty Pretty Things at Rock City Review

0/5
Bands: Dirty Pretty Things
Venue: Rock City
Gig: Dirty Pretty Things @ Rock City
Gig date: 27th November 2006
Posted on 2nd July 2007 by bennyboy

The dawn of December is classically marked with the arrival of icy winds, frozen toes and a depressing reduction of daylight; and as the world turns to embrace Winter, the sultry transpirations of a Young Knives’ ‘Hot Summer’ become nothing but a faded memory. Nonetheless, the ragged and ripped flag of indie rock is still being worn high as bohemian shakers Dirty Pretty Things prepare to unleash a musical assault at our very own Rock City…. ….And what better way to commemorate such an occasion than by giving the band a sample of Nottingham’s sights and sounds: Impact catches up with three of the pretty things: Anthony Rossamundo (Guitarist), Didz Hammond (Bassist) and Carl Barat (Vocals/Guitar) during a pre-gig amble to SelectaDisc: What brings you guys to Nottingham, is this the first time you’ve gigged here? Anthony: ‘Our first gig here was a couple of years ago, down at the Rescue Rooms. The venue encompassed what seems to us now a small crowd, but my God could those guys rock out!…big things, small packages…nasty!’ A few months back, the band performed a set on our very own campus at the Summer Party. How did campus touring work out for you? Anthony: ’Yeh, I remember that performance well, cos it was like scorching that day. We played in the middle of this huge field packed with students…the crowed went wild!’ Didz: ’Playing the campus syndicate was enjoyable, for one it was the summer which meant we were dehydrated and more prone to getting drunk quicker. And secondly it was a kind of a stop gap in our career, we were neither playing formal venues nor committing ourselves to the studio, which meant we could kick back and enjoy the atmosphere…the students go fucking mental!’ At this, the band pause to take a look at the shabby offerings a vintage store has to offer down the [ ] Arcade, at which front man Carl, accompanied by his brother Ollie, instantly find attraction in a dusty 74cm X 34cm oil painting depicting the birth of Eden, where a nude Adam contemplates a gigantic swan, which itself seems to be levitating in an arch over the canvas sky…. You guys are somewhat familiar with the likes of antiquated arcades; Carl’s club ’Bright Young Things’ is situated in an arcade itself; what’s it like playing to fans at this club, in the place where it all started? Anthony: ’Truth be told, there is some kinda buzz you get when you play to a group of people in that place. The band originated within its walls so I guess we’re always provided with a sense of perspective whenever we do a show there; we get to see just how far we’ve come along…first intimate performances at Bright Young Things, now heaving teems at Rock City!’ Didz: ’There is something awkward about playing there. I continue to play Dj sets there every few weeks or so. To be honest, I think it’s a nostalgic thing, we’ve rehearsed, argued and done all sorts within the confines of that place. And playing a show there puts into context just how rewarding the fruits of your labour can be.’ In terms of discography, the band’s released a debut album: ’Waterloo to Anywhere’. Was there an initial working title for the album? How did the current title emerge? Carl: ’Eerm yeah, we did have an initial title when the album was in construction. Do you remember what is was called?’ [Carl sheepishly gestures towards Anthony] Anthony: ’Ahm not sure. But the current heading came from our sessions in Alaska Studios. We put together most of the album there. The cool thing was that this place was located underground and near the vicinity of Waterloo Station…kinda fascinating when you come from the U.S.! During the course of rehearsing, our instruments would be drowned out by the sounds of the passing train carriages above. Everything would vibrate and rattle…pretty crazy cos I guess this left an indelible print in our minds. When I hear passing locomotives I’m reminded of the time we made the album.' Sporadic ‘Guerrilla Gigging’ was a movement that came to typify the Libertines. Do D.P.T. stay true to this tradition? Didz: ’We did an impromptu show at the Proud Gallery in Camden. The performance itself was supposed to give the impression of being unplanned, but I guess that went to shit when we were accompanied by a couple of other bands…most notably Liam Gallagher who proceeded to fuck shit up in the gallery having finished his performance…twas an interesting set of circumstances. What’s in your CD player at the moment? Anthony: ‘Let’s see, really linking the works of HotChip, and Deerhoof’s new album too’ Didz: ‘Ooo…Deerhoof, me likely’ …Redolent performances at the place of origin, to shaky subterranean studio time; it seems that this trip round Nottingham’s art chic quarter has proved to be more than just a pre-show time filler; it’s been a trip down memory lane. In an attempt to tie off this occasion the band progress to the nearest pub; a quaint place a stone’s throw from their tour bus, where Carl and Didz kindly offer us to join in a half-larger…. Over an antiquated snooker table, we shoot the shit with Carl Barat himself: How does the band’s debut album compare to the previously constructed Libertines’ sounds. Would you say your music has progressed? ‘There is a definite difference there, yes. At present, I’ve been given the opportunity to write music with a new group of musicians, and therefore an entirely new set of influences have come into play. We now work within a separate and entirely disparate musical dynamic compared to the Libertine days; and it is because of this that you hear the sounds we have been able to encapsulate on the album.’ Finally, the band originates from a relatively diverse musical background, Didz for example is an ex-member of The Cooper Temple Claus. Do you feel the band effectively pooled their influences in the making of the album? ‘As a unit, we seem to gel very well. We’ve all been friends before the beginning of the band and this has provided a solid foundation for the music to be built upon. At the end of the day the choices we’ve made, either being on tour on in the studio, have been more or less of a democratic nature, to the extent the surrounding circumstances permit…we’ve tried to record a body of music without the irritation and obstruction of a Johnny Borel situation.’ So there you have it. From the unconventional squat gigs in quaint Shoreditch apartments to sell out shows at Rock City; it’s become something of a truism that the Dirty Pretty Things stun, and continue to be stunned by the almost poetic circumstances they constantly find themselves in. Now show your appreciation with some overpriced merchandise. Sixty G

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